Colonial Williamsburg Weapons Conference

Weapons of War: Military Arms in Revolutionary America

October 11-13, 2019

 

Rappahannock Forge Musket Colonial Williamsburg 

" In 1754, British and French soldiers arrived in America in numbers never seen before on North American soil. Thousands of European soldiers joined colonial militias and Native American allies in nine years of bloody fighting—the French and Indian War. With these soldiers came the first large-scale influx of military weaponry into the American colonies. Before then, the colonists’ arms were a mix of the obsolete, the old and the odd. Most firearms were privately owned and suited more for shooting game than combat, while others were outdated weapons captured in previous conflicts.

The social and economic repercussions of this war contributed directly to the onset of the American Revolution 12 years later, when many French and Indian War veterans would fight once again to decide the fate of the British colonies. A fresh wave of cutting-edge military weaponry arrived with the American Revolution, adding to the diverse assemblage of arms types already in existence in 18th-century North America.

Weapons of War offers students, military historians and antique collectors the chance to learn about the various types of arms and accoutrements that came to America during this formative period. From the archaeologically recovered fragments which tell us what was really used during the Revolutionary period to the conservation of surviving artifacts, we will explore a diverse array of materials and ways of appreciating them through modern eyes."

"Some presentations at the conference include (Virginia Gazette Article):

• “Multiple Pathways and Different Lenses: Interdisciplinary Work at Knox’s 1778-1779 Winter Cantonment of the Continental Army” lecture by keynote presenter John L. Seidel, associate professor of anthropology and environmental studies and Center for Environment and Society at Washington College director.
• “Selected Virginia Weapons of the American Revolution,” presented by Giles Cromwell.
• A discussion about the battles of Lexington and Concord by Joel Bohy, "Antiques Roadshow" appraiser and director of historic arms and militaria with Skinner, Inc. of Marlborough, Mass. (a CWF blog post by Joel Bohy can be found here ).
• “‘Small Arms of The Dutch Fabrick’ in 18th-century British America” by independent researcher Jim Mullins.
• “‘For the Defense of the Colony:’ Tracking ‘New Jersey’ Wilson-contract Muskets from the Seven Years War to the Revolution,” presented by curator Mark A. Turdo of the Museum of the American Revolution."

Erik Goldstein Senior Curator of Mechanical Arts & Numismatics 

 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

"Why You Should Register for the Weapons of War Conference
 

Colonial Williamsburg offers a closer look at the arms of the American Revolution
August 8, 2019 Q&A WITH ERIK GOLDSTEIN

"Who would you recommend this conference to?

Anyone with an interest in the French & Indian and Revolutionary Wars will love this conference, as it’s got something for all areas of interest. With such a diverse group of speakers, Weapons of War will appeal to arms collectors, historians, educators, museum professionals, living historians and the generally curious."

Register By
September 20, 20195:00 PM

While there visit the new exhibit  “To Arm against an Enemy: Weapons of the Revolutionary War”

Model 1763 Infantry Musket
Maker: Royal Manufactory at Maubeuge, Origin: France, Maubeuge
OL: 61" musket; 18" bayonet, Iron, steel and walnut
Learn more here

Now Open at The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum